In The News!
BMWED AND NYSW REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-IBT and the NYSW Railway reached a tentative agreement settling all outstanding bargaining issues. The tentative agreement is subject to membership ratification. Details of the agreement will be distributed to the membership in accordance with the BMWED’s bylaws. Lodge 2957 will hold a meeting on Feb 19th to discuss the tentative agreement.
BMWED AND NCCC REACH NATIONAL FREIGHT AGREEMENT
Southfield, MI - Today, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-IBT and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee reached a tentative agreement settling all outstanding bargaining issues. The tentative agreement is subject to membership ratification. Details of the agreement will be distributed to the membership in accordance with the BMWED’s bylaws.
To read more of the article click here.
TELL CONGRESS: STOP RADICALS FROM CHANGING LABOR LAW!
The rights of our brothers and sisters who work at airlines and railroads are in jeopardy. Over 75 years ago, Democrats and Republicans worked together to craft the Railway Labor Act to resolve labor disputes in the airline and railroad industries. Under the Act, the National Mediation Board administers union representation elections in the industry. Until today. Radical anti-union members of Congress are attempting to rewrite this important labor law and change the role of the National Mediation Board without debate or discussion. They have included drastic changes to the law in the FAA Re-authorization bill.
To read more of the article click here.
FRA SAFETY ADVISORY 2011-03, BRIDGE WORKER SAFETY
On January 25, 2012, a BMWED member was fatally injured in a fall from a railroad bridge near St. Louis, MO. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and coworkers at this difficult time. This tragedy is currently under investigation by the Federal Railroad Administration and its cause, and any contributing factors, has not yet been determined pending completion of the investigation. In December 2011, FRA published Safety Advisory 2011-03 on Bridge Walkway Hazards following another bridge worker fatality which occurred in November. Please click below to view FRA Safety Advisory 2011-03.
To read more of the article click here.
PRESS RELEASE PEB - JANUARY 23, 2012
Southfield, MI - The BMWED National Bargaining Committees met last Thursday in Nashville, TN, to discuss the status of current negotiations with the nation's Class I Railroads. BMWED continues to bargain with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern, and Canadian Pacific Railway, over away-from-home expenses for employees required to travel in the service of the railroads. These expense reimbursements have not been adjusted since January 1, 2005.
To read more of the article click here.
Inside Notes
The menu system was altered to better suit user needs. There is also a Retiree "Honor Roll". Please let us know what you think. If you have any names to add to the list of Retirees, lets have at them. They deserve to be noticed. A lot of photos have been added also. Enjoy.
NEWS CLIPS JANUARY 13, 2012
Amtrak outlines infrastructure renewal, fleet and other priorities for 2012
Yesterday, Amtrak officials announced what they term an “aggressive” agenda for 2012 that calls for service growth and operational improvements. Among the highlights: manufacturing the first electric locomotives and single-level cars under contracts with Siemens and CAF, respectively; advancing Northeast Corridor (NEC) planning efforts; upgrading NEC infrastructure; and rolling out electronic ticketing to all trains.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
NEWS CLIPS DECEMBER 16, 2011
"Newt’s Tax Plan, and Why His Polls Rise the More Outrageous He Becomes" This and several other Headlines await this week. Including the NTSB wants nationwide ban on devices in vehicles. Good reading, all of it.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
NEWS CLIPS DECEMBER 09, 2011
China faced its second wave of strikes in two years, as thousands of workers in industrial southern provinces—manufacturers for the world—walked out this fall. Workers making New Balance shoes, Apple and IBM keyboards, underwear, furniture, and Citizen watches struck over pay and overtime.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
NEWS CLIPS DECEMBER 02, 2011
On Nov. 23, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) announced it sent letters to National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC)-represented railroads covered by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) recommendations stating that the union plans to extend the “cooling off” period from Dec. 6 to Feb. 10, 2012. The NCCC and BMWED have not yet reached a tentative national agreement.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
FRA amending regulations on railroad workplace safety
FRA is amending its regulations on railroad workplace safety to further reduce the risk of serious injury or death to roadway workers performing work with potentially distracting equipment near certain adjacent tracks. In particular, this final rule requires that roadway workers comply with specified on-track safety procedures that railroads must adopt to protect those workers from the movement of trains or other on-track equipment on “adjacent controlled track.”
To read more of this follow this link.
PRESS RELEASE PEB - DECEMBER 2, 2011
Washington, DC - Late yesterday the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) reached agreement with the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) for a 60 day extension of a mandatory 30 day cooling off period in order to continue bargaining.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
NEWS CLIPS NOVEMBER 25, 2011
In an anti-government diatribe that would be funny if he weren’t serious, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told a crowd at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government yesterday that child labor laws are “tragic” and “stupid” and have “done more to create income inequality in the United States than any other single policy.”
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
BARGAINING UPDATE - NOVEMBER 23, 2011
Yesterday, the Chief Executive Officers of the Railroads covered by the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 received a letter from me unconditionally extending the cooling off period to February 10, 2012. The BMWED took this action to spare the nation a railroad strike during the busy holiday season, given the still fragile state of the nation’s economy.
To read more of the article click here.
And here at home...
There have been some minor additions to the site. The summation of the BMWED FRA Track Inspectors Survey, a Fact Sheet from OSHA pertaining to the OSHA Whistle Blower protection, and some basic information for retirees in regard to Medicare and RRB benefis. Links to these items are in the Menu under Government and also under Documents.
BARGAINING UPDATE - NOVEMBER 20, 2011
Late Thursday evening, four more unions, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, and International Brotherhood of Boilermakers made tentative agreements with the Railroads. I congratulate those Unions on making agreements they believe are in the best interests of their respective memberships.
To read more of the article click here.
BMWED PRESIDENT SIMPSON REELECTED IBT INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
On Friday, November 18, 2011, after the ballots had been counted, BMWED President Simpson, and the entire Hoffa-Hall slate won their election to International office by a wide margin. BMWED President Freddie Simpson will continue to serve in his capacity as a Teamster International Vice President.
To read more of this follow this link.
Hoffa-Hall Slate Victory
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are proud to declare victory for the entire slate in the 2011 Election of International Union Officers.
To read more of the article follow this link.
BARGAINING UPDATE - NOVEMBER 14, 2011
Last week, both the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) and the coalition led by the Transportation Communications International Union (TCU) met with the Railroads to try to reach a voluntary agreement following the release of the report of Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 on November 5, 2011. Bargaining with the RLBC was unproductive. The TCU-led coalition met with the Railroads on Thursday and Friday and has another meeting scheduled for Monday, November 14, 2011.
To read more of the article click link.
NEWS CLIPS NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Five banks that received federal bailout funds during the financial crisis didn't pay income taxes for one or more years between 2008 and 2010, according to an iWatch News analysis of a new study of tax dodgers.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
NEWS CLIPS NOVEMBER 4, 2011
Leading this weeks news clips is of course the good news that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued new regulations to improve conditions of rail camp cars. Also in the mix is a great article about the dissatisfaction in the US that has sustained the occupy wall street movement.
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
UNION HAILS NEW RULES GOVERNING RAILROAD CAMP CARS
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued new regulations today to improve conditions of rail camp cars, backing several recommendations by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Rail Conference.
To read more of the article click link.
NEWS CLIPS FOR OCTOBER 28, 2011
Herman Cain’s bizarre 9-9-9 plan would replace much of the current tax code with a 9 percent individual income tax and a 9 percent sales tax. He calls it a “flat tax.” Next week Rick Perry is set to announce his own version of a flat tax. Former House majority leader Dick Armey – now chairman of Freedom Works, a major backer of the Tea Party funded by the Koch Brothers and other portly felines (I didn’t say “fat cats”) — predicts this will give Perry “a big boost.” ...
To read more of this and other recent news, follow this link.
PEB 243 BMWED CRAFT SPECIFIC EXHIBITS
PEB 243 BMWED Craft Specific Exhibits have been posted to the website: Statement of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division/IBT Regarding Rectification of Intra-Carrier Rate Inequities On Rail Carriers Controlled By Norfolk Southern, Statement of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes/IBT Regarding Improvements in the Rest-Day Travel Allowance Paid To Employees Working Away From Home and Statement of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes/IBT Regarding Improvements to Expenses Away From Home.
To read more of the article follow this link.
PEB 243 HEARINGS SET TO BEGIN OCTOBER 13
The hearings before Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 243 will commence with opening arguments on Thursday, October 13, 2011. The hearings will be held in Washington, DC, and the formal proceedings are scheduled to continue through October 20, 2011.
BMWED Press Release available here.
"BMWED News Alerts"
Brothers and Sisters,
In a continuing effort, the National Division is trying to find more and better ways to communicate with our members,
particularly our younger members. The "E-Activist Alerts" have been renamed "BMWED News Alerts" and can still be activated
by visiting the BMWED website, main page. Currently, less than 10 percent of the membership is signed up to receive
these alerts. I would ask that each of you encourage participation during regular membership meetings. I have found that
circulating a sign up sheet requesting names and email addresses among those attending membership meetings is the best
method to encourage participation.
Those email addresses can be forwarded to me by email or fax at (615) 824-2164, or to Daniel Yack at dyack@bmwe.org.
Please participate!
BMWED releases statement on creation of PEB 243
President Obama appointed a five member Presidential Emergency Board (PEB-243) today, narrowly averting a national freight rail strike, or lock-out. On September 6, 2011, the National Mediation Board (NMB) released the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters (BMWED/IBT), and ten other rail labor unions from mediation, and, pursuant to Section 5 of the Railway Labor Act, the parties were in a 30 day cooling off period that would have expired at 12:01 AM, October 7, had the President not appointed the PEB.
For a copy of the Release follow this link.
President Obama creates PEB 243
President Barrack Obama has created Presidential Emergency Board 243 to resolve the issues between the Rail Bargaining Coalition and the named Carriers. For a copy of the Executive Order and Press Release follow this link.
In case you thought you had seen it all... GANG OF 6 HEALTHCARE PROPOSAL
As debt ceiling negotiations continue on Capitol Hill, many proposals for reducing the nation's deficit have been put forth. Recently, a bipartisan group of Senators, referred to as the "Gang of Six," has put forth their own deficit reduction proposal. Included in this proposal is a provision that would be very harmful to millions of middle-class working famllies and one that the IBT strongly opposes: taxing healthcare benefits.
Please follow this link to get more information on this urgent matter.
Slideshow of UTU / BMWED description of UTU plan
Here's the annotated UTU slide show in PDF format for distribution.
Just The Facts
The United Transportation Union (UTU) recently signed a tentative national agreement that will be sent to their membership in August for ratification. This agreement, should it ratify, will cover the six-year period from 2010-2016. The deal not only contains an inferior wage package but also provides the carriers with a number of healthcare give-backs that would gut the healthcare plan as we know it today.
For details about the issues with the UTU tentative contract, follow this link.
Joint and Muscle fitness
Presented here is a study on the effects of walking on ballast as far as your lower body health is concerned.
For more on walking on ballast as concerns muscle groups and fitness, follow this link.
The Health Care Crisis
It's certainly no secret our health care system is broken. It is an incredible burden to both the working people and the industries that still operate in this country. While there have been all types of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) campaigns out there, never have there been so many half truths and out right lies as there is on this topic.
Provided here are a few links on this topic of ever increasing importance.
Comparing our U.S. Health Care to other countries Health Care
Information on Hopeful Legislation
The Employee Free Choice Act:
* Helps Americas working families improve their standard of living. Workers in unions earn 30 percent higher wages and are 59 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance.
* Fixes a broken system that gives corporations far too much power. When workers try and organize unions, they are often harassed and intimidated; 25 percent of companies unlawfully fire pro-union workers.
* Restores fairness and the promise of the American Dream, with a robust middle class, economic growth, and shared prosperity.
Its time our economy worked for everyone again. Its time for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Click Here to Find out More and what you can do!
"Of all the forms of inequality,
injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.